Senior Healthcare Assistant

NHS; Brighton; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000

Job description

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

The Senior Healthcare Assistant (HCA) is part of the multidisciplinary team delivering and recording a range of personal care activities. The Senior HCA also delivers higher level fundamental clinical care to patients. Support and supervision is provided by a Registered Nurse or Registered Nursing Associate. The Senior HCA has a responsibility to support, supervise and assess new staff and delegate basic tasks to the HCA team. The Senior HCA assists in ensuring the effective running of the ward/department.

Main duties of the job

1. Undertakes a limited range of delegated clinical care duties relevant to the services provided/work area; record patient observations, e.g. taking blood pressure, blood glucose monitoring, pregnancy testing, routine paediatric observations, observing patients for signs of agitation or distress, wound observations and simple wound dressings, removal of peripheral cannula, urinalysis, removal of catheter.
2. After appropriate training, to assist in the collection of specimens and record results. After appropriate training and in discussion with the line manager, there is an expectation the role will undertake extended scope of practice skills to meet service need, for example; venepuncture, ECG, surgical care, stoma cares, enteral feeding.
3. To provide enhanced observation for patients with additional needs, mental health diagnosis or who require enhanced supervision as they may be at risk of harm.
4. To assist in the maintenance of up to date, comprehensive and accurate records in accordance with current legal requirements.
5. To ensure that stock levels of linen, sterile supplies and stationery are maintained at all times in conjunction with the senior sister/ward receptionist.
6. Commit to completing the HCA Foundation programme.

About us

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job responsibilities

We are excited to recruit into the position of a senior healthcare assistant for the Children's Surgical Ward. We are looking for a healthcare assistant that has paediatric experience (children's surgical experience desirable). They will be entered onto our HCA foundation programme. Desirable for care certificate completion, if not you will be offered a band 2 position and offered band 3 once you have completed your care certificate within 6 months.

UHSussex is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults and to protecting them from the risks of harm. The Trust recognises its responsibility to ensure that safe working conditions and systems are in place for staff working with children, adults, and families in their care. Staff are required to comply with Trust policies on Safeguarding and to undertake the appropriate level of mandatory in-service training in this area.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience working with children
• Evidence of working in an Acute Health Care setting
• Completion of Care Certificate or equivalent

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Salary: £24,071 to £25,674 a year per annum pro rata